novelraw Chapter 142: Eastern Suburbs of Yun City
Chapter 142: Eastern Suburbs of Yun City
Su Zhan looked at the four large characters on his phone indicating task acceptance.
He pondered silently in his heart.
The difficulty of this task was unknown, but it wasn't particularly rare.
Because most investigative tasks like this don't come with difficulty ratings.
Sometimes what you uncover might just be a low-tier Aberrant.
Other times you might investigate and find a high-risk level, or even higher-level Aberrant.
So you could say this thing is dangerous, but also not dangerous.
It all depends on fate.
Why accept such a task?
Because it's an investigative mission.Other tasks have very low freedom - whether it's escorting, protecting someone's safety, or attacking a specific location.
The method of completing the task is already clearly explained to you, leaving little room for maneuvering.
But investigative tasks are different.
He could just go through the motions without any problem.
After all, it's an investigation - however I investigate is my own reasoning, who can say for sure about these things?
His purpose in accepting the task was to enter the mist incident, thereby absorbing the life essence of the mist creatures.
The task itself was just a pretext.
Moreover, this type of task is easiest to slack off on, with very high freedom, and no penalties for failure.
For him, it's practically the perfect task type!
Su Zhan looked at the task in his hand.
Now, it's time to set off.
Yun City, I'm coming.
......
Yun City is surrounded by high mountains on all sides, with the urban area built on relatively flat terrain amidst the mountains.
There's lots of rainfall here, the air is humid, and sometimes when you wake up in the morning, thick fog envelops the outside, a vast white expanse where you can't see clearly beyond ten meters.
After the sun comes out, the fog slowly dissipates.
This is the origin of the name "Yun City".
Yun City's high-speed rail station is built on a mountainside, surrounded by steep cliffs.
The station isn't large, with only two platforms and four tracks.
Early morning.
Su Zhan stepped out of the carriage carrying a black travel bag.
The chilly mountain wind immediately blew into his collar, making him tighten his clothes.
The station square was empty.
Only a few taxis had their "Available" lights on.
The drivers gathered together smoking, cigarette tips glowing and fading in the darkness.
Actually, Yun City does have an airport.
It's just...
Su Zhan felt that taking the high-speed rail was more comfortable.
He preferred the feeling of being close to the ground.
Su Zhan dragged his suitcase out of the station exit.
Seven or eight drivers immediately swarmed around him, chattering noisily:
"Where to, young man? It's the middle of the night, I'll give you a cheap rate!"
"Going to Yunshan Grand Hotel? My car is spacious!"
"Don't listen to him! The air conditioning in his broken car doesn't work! Take mine, I'll give you 20% off!"
Su Zhan rubbed his temples: "Yunshan Grand Hotel, how much?"
He could only stay at a hotel when coming here.
Hmm, a bunch of taxi drivers shouting at the high-speed rail station - such a familiar scene.
It was early morning, and these taxi drivers had started quoting exorbitant prices.
"100!"
A bald driver wearing a gold chain shouted first: "It's the middle of the night, that's the price!"
A tall, thin driver immediately interrupted: "Don't listen to his nonsense! I'll take you for 80!"
"60!"
An older driver with a stubbly face squeezed through the crowd and patted his semi-new Jetta: "My car might be a bit old, but it's steady on mountain roads!"
Just as Su Zhan was about to speak.
A middle-aged driver in a faded jacket approached: "40! 40 and I'll go! To be honest, I'm just heading home anyway, my house is right next to the hotel."
The other drivers immediately scattered with curses: "Old Li, you're pulling this trick again!"
Su Zhan followed Old Li toward his peeling taxi: "Do you often run this route?"
"Of course! I've been driving a taxi in Yun City for twenty years!"
Old Li deftly stuffed the luggage into the trunk, started the car, and skillfully turned onto the winding mountain road: "Are you here for tourism or business?"
"Business trip."
Su Zhan answered briefly.
"Oh~"
Old Li glanced at Su Zhan through the rearview mirror: "Judging by your age, you're a college student, right?"
Su Zhan made a noncommittal sound.
"Let me tell you, you made a good choice with Yunshan Grand Hotel!"
Old Li started chatting on his own: "Their mattresses are especially soft, and the beef noodles at breakfast are exceptional! But I heard they're renovating recently, you'd better call ahead to check..."
The car turned around a sharp bend.
Old Li steered with one hand: "Last month there was a guest who insisted on staying at some influencer homestay, ended up catching a cold from the mountain wind in the middle of the night, hahahaha... It's better to choose a hotel, those influencer homestay places look one way in videos, but when you get there it's completely different."
If drivers didn't strike up conversations with passengers, they might not speak a word all day.
When Old Li first started in this line, he didn't like talking either.
But after driving for a long time, he gradually developed the habit of chatting with everyone he met.
It wasn't that he really had that much to say, purely to stay alert and relieve boredom.
Sometimes he would talk without even knowing what he was saying, but his mouth just wouldn't stop.
Over time, it became an occupational habit.
When he sees a passenger get in the car, his lips automatically start moving.
Chatting about the weather, road conditions, news, and when there's really nothing to talk about, he can even make comments about birds flying by the roadside.
Su Zhan looked out the window at the dark mountain road and casually asked: "I heard the city hasn't been peaceful recently?"
"You've heard about it too?"
Old Li lowered his voice, leaning back mysteriously: "It's really been strange lately, especially in the eastern suburbs area, many people have disappeared inexplicably..."
"How so?"
Su Zhan put on an interested expression.
Seeing his expression through the rearview mirror, Old Li opened up more:
"Speaking of that matter in the eastern suburbs, it's really weird. At first it was a few babies who went missing, later even adults started disappearing."
Su Zhan immediately asked: "When was the most recent case?"
"Just the day before yesterday!"
Old Li slapped his thigh: "Old Liu from the vegetable market who sells tofu, he disappeared on his way home after closing his stall, sigh... You tell me... a man in his sixties, no money, no looks, what would anyone want with him?
I think there's a 99.9% chance it's an Aberrant doing this, but I don't think the Aberrant is particularly powerful. After all, targeting such an old man with loose skin and tough meat probably means it's not very strong."
Su Zhan listened silently.
"The houses in the eastern suburbs area now,"
Old Li shook his head: "You can't rent a three-bedroom apartment for 700 a month. A friend of mine has a two-story house that could sell for 800,000 last year, but now he can't get any interest even at 400,000."
Su Zhan asked: "Have you been there?"
"Would I dare!"
Old Li forced a dry laugh: "We drivers now all avoid the eastern suburbs. Everyone living in the eastern suburbs wants to get out, even spending money to rent places outside rather than go back to live there.
Hey, but there are some people who are exactly the opposite.
Some young people who aren't afraid of death specifically go there to explore, saying they want to livestream ghost hunting...
There are no ghosts in this world, only Aberrants. Young people these days will do anything for views."
Eastern suburbs of Yun City... there's probably an Aberrant there, and he just happens to need these Aberrants to summon the mist for him.